Friday, 2 March 2018

Game of traitor - traitor is not new in Pakistan, said Dr Shabir Choudhry

Game of traitor - traitor is not new in Pakistan, said
Dr Shabir Choudhry, while responding to a question about court verdict on issue
of his ID card.

He further said, it is unfortunate that in Pakistan and Jammu and
Kashmir no one is safe from allegations and mudslinging. It is free for all.
Everyone is at liberty to make any allegation against people he dislikes or
perceive as a threat; and sad thing is that the accused has to prove that he is
innocent, and the accuser only has to make allegations.

Dr Shabir Choudhry said, in some circles of Pakistan Mohammed Ali Jinnah
was accused as being a ‘British agent’, and his sister Fatima Jinnah was
accused of being an ‘Indian agent’. Some army Generals and Chiefs are accused
of being American agents, and three-time Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif is accused
of being an Indian agent. Imran Khan, a popular opposition leader is accused of
being a Jewish agent. There is a long list of alleged ‘agents’.

In this kind of social and political culture what chance do I have who
is a steadfastly struggling to establish united and independent Jammu and
Kashmir. In this context, my struggle is also against the Pakistani occupation
and exploitation of our resources.

Pakistani establishment and especially ISI abhorred my endeavours to
expose their designs on Jammu and Kashmir; and educate people that Pakistan is
also an occupier, and that we must struggle against the Pakistani occupation on
this side of the divide, and let people on the other side of the divide to
struggle against Indian occupation.

Their infamous tactics to defame me in social, political and family
circles did not deter me, so to teach me a lesson, they instructed NADRA not to
renew my ID card, which is absolutely essential for life in areas of Jammu and
Kashmir occupied by them. Without a valid ID card one cannot even travel and
could be stopped and arrested anytime. One cannot bank, buy or sell
property/business, hire anything or even stay in any hotel.

Their vengeance did not stop there. In order to increase family
pressure, and frighten others, they even stop renewal of my daughter’s ID card
as well, even though she is married and lives separate from me, and has no role
in politics. Through their network they even spread rumours that my other
family members, friends and colleagues could also suffer if they kept their
links with Dr Shabir Choudhry.

They made unfounded allegations against me, and through network of
puppets they started nefarious propaganda that I was opposing CPEC and writing
against Pakistan because I was funded by India.

I am author of 65 books and booklets. I have more than thousand TV
interviews. No one will find a single sentence where I have supported India, or
said Jammu and Kashmir is part of India; or that I wanted to be part of India.
Those citizens of Jammu and Kashmir who are on pay role of Pakistan they yell
with full voice that they want to be part of Pakistan; and that to them
Pakistan is sacred just like Madina. These people who are not loyal to their
motherland are projected as patriots; and those who love their motherland and earnestly
oppose occupation of all countries are projected as traitors.

This policy of neo – colonialism, blind hatred and injustice had to be
challenged, and I did that. I challenged them in Islamabad High Court.

The case lasted for more than 2 years, with total of 11 hearings. Those
who blocked my ID card were not in hurry. They wanted to drag it on. They were
funded by the state. I had to fund myself. They wanted to deplete my financial
resources; and exhaust me, defame me and increase family, social and political
pressure. I knew, to challenge number one, I also had to be number one. I kept
my cool. I knew I am innocent. My family and handful of friends supported me.

By grace of Allah SWT, not a shred of evidence was presented against me.
The honourable Judge gave them many opportunities to present some evidence in
support of their allegations. No evidence was available and none was presented.
The entire case was politically motivated; and one aim was to discipline me and
other nationalists of Jammu and Kashmir.

Their whole case was like 35 punctures of Imran Khan. When the
honourable Judge repeatedly asked them to present evidence, they said, ‘we have
referred the case to the Ministry of Interior’. This went on for many months.
It was a delaying tactic. My attorney, Nisar Shah, did a wonderful job and put
up with all the pressure. The case was ‘disposed of’ on 29 January 2018. The
honourable Judge reserved the decision.

Allegations of ISI against me

Allegations made by ISI against me in
writing accused me that on directions of India I was opposing CPEC and ‘activating
the local nationals of Gilgit Baltistan to rise against the proposed CPEC’.The ISI letter says, ‘Some of
the details are’:

‘He is author of 27 +
books and booklets on various aspects of Kashmir, most of which are sponsored
by RAW. Recently two of his books “Why Arif Shahid was Killed” and “Extremism,
Terrorism and Threat to Peace in South Asia” with full of propaganda against
ISI and Pakistan Army have been recovered and confiscated from AJK. He
continuously disseminates, subversive and hate material against Pakistan Army,
ISI and other intelligence agencies through his contacts in Pakistan and
abroad’.

The ISI letter further states: ‘…nevertheless,
we need to take immediate strict measures against the individuals openly
involved in anti - Pakistan activities. Dr Shabir Choudhry, a Pakistani origin
British national is one such prominent Kashmiri sub nationalist involved in anti-Pakistan
activities sponsored by RAW’.

In addition, the ISI letter says, Dr
Shabir Choudhry ‘attends seminars, conferences and meetings with foreign
think tanks at international levels…He also conducts TV programmes in UK
against the interests of the State for which he is paid by RAW.’ They also
alleged that I was to start a KNTV and KNP News. The ISI letter presented in
court ends like this:

‘Foregoing in view, it is requested
that Dr Shabir Choudhry may not be facilitated in renewal of his NICOP due to
his ante state activities’.

Directions of the Honourable Judge

The decision was made public after some weeks, and DOES NOT find me guilty of any allegations. (The
allegations were politically motivated; hence no evidence was furnished). The
honourable Judge said:

‘The Authority has misinterpreted the
provisions of section 47 of the Ordinance of 2000 by seeking guidance from the
Federal Government… The Authority is exclusively vested with power and
jurisdiction under the said provision to cancel, impound or confiscate a card.
The authority therefore, is required to take a decision independently and
without being influenced by the Federal Government’.

‘For what has been discussed above, the
Authority is directed to afford an opportunity of hearing to the petitioner or
his representative and, thereafter through a speaking order either extend the
expired NICOP card of the petitioner or cancel the same under section 18 of the
Ordinance 2000’.

It is interesting that the section 18 mentioned
above does not apply in my case, as it deals with forgery of documents and
people who have more than one ID card. In other words, NADRA has only one
option: Issue the ID card. It is possible that they just sit on the decision or
use some other delaying tactic. That is why I said the war has not ended, it
has just begun.

Where the honourable Judge referred to
Federal government he means, ISI, because it was on instructions of the ISI the
ID card was not renewed. The NADRA is clearly directed that they can take a ‘decision
independently and without being influenced by the Federal Government’.

I wanted to prove these points: I am a
patriot of Jammu and Kashmir. I don’t have to be loyal to those who occupy me.
I am not a traitor. Secret agencies are not Gods, they can be challenged.

The writer is
Chairman of South Asia Watch, London, and author of many books on Jammu and
Kashmir and terrorism.Drshabirchoudhry@gmail.com

About Me

Dr Shabir Choudhry has done extensive research on the issue of Kashmir and Indo Pakistan relations. He passed BA Honours in Politics and History, and Mphil in International Relations (title of the thesis, ‘Kashmir and Partition of India’); and title of his PhD thesis is ‘Kashmir- An issue of a nation not a dispute of a land’.

Apart from this Dr Shabir Choudhry passed Post Graduates Certificates in Education, and NVQ Assessor’s qualifications; and taught English in London.

Political Achievements

Founder member of JKLF (Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front established in 1977) and got elected as a Press Secretary in 1984.

Became its Secretary General in 1985, and resigned from this post in 1996.

Got elected President of JKLF and Europe in May 1999, and decided not to contest in elections of July 2001.

Said good - bye to the JKLF as it is in many groups and is largely seen as advancing a Pakistani agenda on Kashmir dispute, and set up a new party Kashmir National Party in May 2008.

.

At present, he is:

·Spokesman Kashmir National Party and Director Diplomatic Committee;

·Spokesman for International KashmirAlliance;

·Founder member and Director Institute of Kashmir Affairs;

Previously

·A founder Member and Trustee/ Director of London based registered charity, Kashmir Foundation International and resigned from this position in August 2001.

·Regularly take part in the Sessions of the UN Human Rights (Commission) now Council in Geneva; and address various conferences and seminars to oppose violence and highlight the Kashmir cause.

·Participated in a Round Table Conference on Kashmir, organised by Socialist Group of European Parliament in Brussels in 1993.

·Addressed as a Chief Guest in a seminar on issue of Mangla Dam during the UN Sub Commission’s proceedings in August 2003.

·Addressed as a key - note speaker in a seminar on the issue of Gilgit and Baltistan, organised by Association of British Kashmiris.

·Addressed as a keynote speaker on human rights conference in Paris in 1991.

·Addressed at CambridgeUniversity as a Chief Guest in a conference on Kashmir in 1990.

·Addressed as a keynote speaker at New Delhi conference on Kashmir, which was part of Track Two diplomacy in November 2000.

·In September 2008, addressed a Conference arranged by Interfaith International in Geneva, topic of which was:“Kashmir Issue, Terrorism and Human Rights”.

·Addressed as a speaker in a NGO Conference on Self - Determination in Geneva in August 2000.

·Addressed as a keynote speaker in a fringe meeting of Liberal Democrats at their Annual Conference in Brighton in 1995.

·Participated in World Human Rights Conference in Vienna in 1993.

·Before President Clinton's visit to India and Pakistan in 2000, lead a JKLF delegation to the State Department to discuss Kashmir dispute and situation in South Asia.

·Also had two rounds of meetings with senior State Department officials before President Musharraf’s meeting to Washington in June 2003.

·Apart from that had meetings with senior officials including Ministers of different countries, and also held many meetings with the State Department and Foreign and Commonwealth Office officials on number of occasions.

·Played important role in advancing a Kashmiri perspective on the issue of Jammu and Kashmir; and also helped Baroness Emma Nicholson with her report ‘Kashmir: present situation and future prospects’, which was adopted by the European Parliament in May 2007.

·Won first prize in an essay competition in Urdu in 1976. It was organised by High Commission of Pakistan in London, and title of the essay was 'Qaaid-e- Azam's role in Islamic History'.

·Apart from that have addressed conferences in Brussels, Geneva, Toronto, Islamabad, Delhi, and

Publications

·Got first Urdu novel ‘Fareena’ published at the age of eighteen.

·Second Urdu novel ‘Bay-Khataa’ which was about the problems of Asian youths living in UK published in 1983.

·Third Urdu book ‘Pakistan and Kashmiri struggle for independence’ published in 1990.

·Fourth Urdu book is also on Kashmiri struggle, 'Is an independent Kashmir a conspiracy?'

·Apart from that has twenty books and booklets published in English on various aspects of the Kashmiri struggle.

·Recent publications are: Kashmir dispute as I see it

·Different perspective on Kashmir

·JKLF visit to Pakistan Administered Kashmir

·Kashmir Needs Change of Heart

·If not self - determination then what?

·Emma Nicholson report- who has won?

·Struggle for independence, Jihad or proxy war (Introduction by Baroness Emma Nicholson)

·

Future publications

Following books were completed some time ago and shall be published in near future:

In Search of Freedom - My visit to Srinagar and Islamabad

Kashmir and Partition of India

A brief background

Dr Shabir Choudhry was born in a small village called Nakker Shimali (near Panjeri) in District Bhimber, Azad Kashmir. He went to UK in 1966, and like other people from the region, holds a dual nationality. He left secondary school in 1970 with no qualifications and began his life as a textile worker.

In 1975 he started part time studies and passed Matriculation from Government High School Panjeri, passed ‘O’ and ‘A’ levels from UK, and resumed full time degree course in 1981, and passed BA (Hons) in Politics and History in 1984.

He continued full time and part time jobs until he got his Mphil. He passed his PGCE (Post Graduates Certificate in Education) in 1990, and then started full time job as a Lecturer. Due to health problems he resigned from teaching in 1999. At present he is self - employed, provides private tuition, translation and interpretation and consultancy.

Through out his adult life he has actively worked for the cause of Kashmir, and even during long illness he effectively carried out his responsibilities as a leader of the JKLF, a ‘prolific writer’ and consistent campaigner of Rights Movement and peace in Jammu and Kashmir and South Asia.